Who was the biggest failure in the New Testament? A person that comes to mind is Peter. This man was an enthusiastic follower of Jesus. He pretty much stated he’d go to the ends of the earth for his Lord.

However, he failed Jesus in our Savior’s hour of greatest need. As Jesus was going through the suffering leading up to the crucifixion, Peter was asked three times if he was an ally of Jesus. Each time, he denied even knowing him. Peter was a terrible friend that night. He failed Jesus.

How do you feel when you fail Jesus? Depending on how severe the offense, you probably experience a range of emotions.

I can be in the pit of despair when I know I’ve let Jesus down. My once Herculean faith has been reduced to ashes. In fact, just a day before, I may have been a bold follower of Jesus, trusting God for great things. I felt indestructible. I had the faith of Peter.

Then came my fall. An angry outburst at my wife or a selfish decision that pushed others out of my life. How in the world could that happen in such a short period of time? Was my faith real yesterday or was I just acting?

I can imagine the devastation Peter felt when the rooster crowed. The light went on. He realized what he had done. 

We all act like Peter at some point in our faith walk. Let’s be honest. We’ve been like Peter many times, failing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The verse that rings in my mind is this . . .

“Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18 ESV)

We can think we’re being super-faithful when we’re really being prideful. And that’s one reason we fall so easily. Pride was a big problem for Peter. He “knew” he’d always be a faithful disciple, yet fear defeated him.

His failure, though, changed his life. This turning point equipped him to lead the early church. God continued to refine him and deal with him. Read the book of Acts and you’ll see a bold Peter who acted out of a deep love for Jesus.

The solution for pride is to drop at the feet of Jesus and humble yourself before him. Confess your sin. Accept his forgiveness. Move forward as a changed person, but never forget the lesson.

Your sin was paid for on the cross. When you fail Jesus, turn to him. Restore your fellowship.

Rather than building your faith on yourself, let Jesus build your faith on himself.

From by new devotional Your Life With God: 30 Days of Faith. Start a fresh faith journey today. Get your copy on Amazon. (Kindle and paperback).